Signal lamp for motor vehicles



Feb. 19, 1929.

H. B. DONLEY SIGNAL LAMP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed April '7, 1924 l1/mando@ Harald. ,P0107 atten aq Patented Feb. 19., 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,702,429 PATENT oFFlcE.

HAROLD B. DONLEY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE JOHN W. BROWN KFG. CO.,

Ol? COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SIGNAL LAMP ron Moron VEHICLES.

Application led April 7, 1924. Serial No. 704,724.

.The present'invention is directed to im` provements in signal lamps for motor vehicles.

l The primary'object of the invention is to provide a device of this character constructed in such manner as to serve as a combined stop and backing light, the illumination thereof bein accomplished with a single incandescent ulb and a reflector.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal of this character for use upon the rear of an automobile and having combined therewith a tail light which can be'operated with or independently of the stop and l5 backingv lights.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction,v combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, and hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claim. I

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the device,

IFigure 2 is a front view of the device with the lenses removed, and

Figure 3 is a front view of the lenses and supporting ring therefor.

Referring tol the drawing 1 designates the casing in which is mounted the reiector 2 and supported by said reflector is an incandescent bulb 3 capable of bein adjusted backwardly and forwardly to regu ate the focus thereof.

A horizontal bar 4 is employed and'extends across the center of the open end of the reflector, said bar having rearwardly bent 'terminal arms 5 extended into the recesses 6 of the annular flange 7 of the' reliector, said arms being disposed between the casing and reflector and are secured to the casing by bolts 8.

A relatively small reflector 9 islocated in the lower end of the reflector 2 and is provided upon its upper edge with an ear 1'0 which is bolted to the center of the bar 4. The lower end of this reflector is provided with an ear 11 adapted to rest against the ange 7 and is held thereon by the lens ringA l2, the said ring being secured to the casing 1 in any a proved manner. The reflector 9 is provide with an opening 13"to permit the rays of lightfrom the incandescent bulb 14 mounted,A therein to be reflected through the casing window' 15 upon the license tag 16.

, (not shown) which are o erated by the foot The ring 12 is formed with a centrally located horizontally disposed rib 17 which divides the ring into upper and lower semicircular openings 18 and 19, respectively. The openings are closed by lenses 20 and 21, respectively, said lenses being held in place by tongues 22 carried by the ring and rib.

The lenses 2O and 21 arev colored respectively, white and red, and it will be observed that the lower or red lens 21 covers the re- Hector 9, whereby a tail light is provided.

As shown clearly in Figure 1 the bulb 3 is so focused Athat the light rays therefrom will be reflected downwardly through the lens 20 upon the roadway to enable the driver of the car to clearly see the roadway as the car is backed. It will be further observed that the light from the bulb 3' willv also brightly illuminate those ortions of the red lens 21'upon o posite sides of the reiector 9, whereby sai lens will serve to give a stop indication. When the bulb 14 is illuminated for night use, the area of the lens 21 covering the reflector 7 will be illuminated as will be obvious, said bulb being furnished with ycurrent from the wire 23. Current is furnished to the bulbv 3.throu h wires 24 which are connected with suita leswitches break lever and 'the shift ever when in osition for reversing the travel of the car. hus when the foot break lever is actuated the bulb 3 will be illuminated to illuminate the lens 21 thereby operating the stop signal. This bulb also is illuminated when they shift lever is in its reverse position so that the' rays therefrom will be reiiected by the reflector through the lens 20 to illuminate the roadway and'enable the driver to back the carin safety. It. will be of course understood that if desired the bulb 14 may be illuminated when the foot lever is actuated, it only being necessary to connect the Wires 23 wit the switch controlling theillumination of the bulb 3 when it is illuminated through the instrumentality of its cooperative switch.

What is claimed is:

A signal lamp of the class described, comprising a casing, a main reflector mounted in the casing, a bar in front of the main reiiector 105 and dis osed horizontally ofthe casing and lhaving 1pts ends fixed thereto, a supplemental reflector of smaller diameter having its outer i edge lsecured to the central portlon of said barppand mounted' in said main reflectorl 1n 110 such a manner that the o en sides of said reflectors lie in substantie y the same plane, a lens ring, means removably engagmg it with the casing and. having a horizontally disposed rib carried thereby and covering said bar, said rib dividing the lens ring into upper and lower openings, and a lens positionedv in each opening and illuminated by the rays issuin from the illuminatin elements situated 1n the principal axis o each 10 reector.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HAROLD B. DONLEY. 

